Portugal has a long-standing relationship with tea. Although the cultivation of Camellia sinensis has a very different scale compared to other producing countries, Portugal has a unique history linked to the production and consumption of this plant.
In the Azores, tea found favourable conditions to grow and became part of the region's agricultural and gastronomic identity.
But speaking of Portuguese tea today also means talking about a new generation of brands and projects that seek to reinterpret tea and infusion culture, valuing ingredients, producers, and more conscious ways of consuming.
What is truly Portuguese tea?
Before talking about Portuguese tea, it is important to distinguish tea from infusion.
True tea is produced from the Camellia sinensis plant. Green tea, black tea, white tea, and other varieties originate from this same plant, with differences determined mainly by the processing of the leaves.
On the other hand, beverages prepared exclusively with aromatic plants, flowers, or fruits are usually called infusions or herbal teas.
This distinction is important because, in Portugal, we often use the word "tea" to refer to both.
If you want to learn more about this difference, you can read our article Tea or Infusion: What's the difference?.
The history of tea in Portugal
Portugal's relationship with tea dates back to the first European contacts with Asia.
Tea arrived in Europe through Portuguese trade routes and quickly aroused interest among the wealthier classes.
Centuries later, the plant found a particularly favourable territory in the Azores.
The combination of humid climate, moderate temperatures, and volcanic soils created suitable conditions for the cultivation of Camellia sinensis.
It was mainly on the island of São Miguel that tea production gained prominence, giving rise to a tradition that continues to this day.
Azorean tea
When we think of Portuguese tea, the Azores hold a special place.
The tea plantations of São Miguel are part of the island's landscape and represent one of the best-known expressions of tea production in Portugal.
Azorean tea is produced from Camellia sinensis and can present different characteristics depending on the variety and the process used.
Among the traditional productions of the region are mainly green tea and black tea.
This production also has cultural importance: it keeps alive an agricultural activity that is part of the history of the Azores and the identity of the island of São Miguel.
What makes Portuguese tea special?
Tea production in Portugal has a particularly interesting characteristic: it occurs in a European territory with very specific conditions.
In the Azores, the Atlantic influence provides a humid climate and relatively mild temperatures throughout the year.
The volcanic landscape and the proximity to the ocean are part of the context in which these plantations thrive.
More than a matter of taste, Portuguese tea thus tells a story of the adaptation of a plant originating in Asia to a European territory.
It is a story that connects agriculture, climate, landscape, and tradition.
Portuguese tea and new brands
The tea culture in Portugal is not limited to the Azorean plantations.
In recent years, new Portuguese brands and projects linked to the world of tea, infusions, and herbal teas have also emerged.
Some seek to revive traditional ingredients. Others explore less conventional combinations, bringing together plants, flowers, and fruits.
It is here that the world of tea begins to intersect with that of Portuguese infusions.
Although they are not the same thing, they share a culture of discovery, preparation, and appreciation of natural ingredients.
Tea, herbal teas, and infusions: different ways to discover Portugal
A cup can contain much more than tea.
It can contain aromatic plants grown by a small producer, flowers, fruits, or ingredients that are part of the Portuguese landscape.
Portuguese herbal teas and infusions allow for exploring this diversity in a particularly creative way.
At Criatura, we work precisely in this territory.
We create combinations of plants, flowers, and fruit, seeking to value natural ingredients and establish close relationships with small farmers and conscious producers.
You can discover more about this universe in our article on Portuguese Infusions: flavors, plants, and tradition of Portugal.
Criatura and the culture of infusions in Portugal
Criatura was born with a simple idea: to create new experiences from natural ingredients and value what is produced consciously.
Our infusions and herbal teas are 100% organic and combine different plants, flowers, and fruits.
We work with small producers and seek to know the origin of the raw materials used in our recipes.
It is a different approach from the traditional tea production from Camellia sinensis, but it shares the same concern: to value the relationship between nature, ingredients, and people.
Therefore, when we talk about Portuguese tea, we also want to contribute to a Portuguese culture of greater knowledge and appreciation of these beverages.
A new way of experiencing tea in Portugal
Tea has a long history in Portugal.
From the first contacts with the plant to the Azorean plantations, it evolved from an exotic product to part of a culture that continues to evolve.
Today, this evolution also happens through infusions and herbal teas.
New ingredients, new combinations, and new brands are creating other ways to discover aromas and flavours.
At Criatura, we believe that this diversity is an opportunity to re-examine what Portuguese nature has to offer.
Because, whether through a tea produced in the Azores or an herbal tea created from plants, flowers, and fruits, there is always a story to discover.
Discover the Criatura universe
Criatura infusions and herbal teas are 100% organic, created from combinations of plants, flowers, and fruit.
Discover our collection and find new flavours to transform your next break.